The second bomb, which was found at La Salle Park, was made safe a short time after another device exploded outside a house in nearby St James Park.

A man who was in the house at the time of the blast was not injured, although his van parked outside was badly damaged.

The bomb had been attached to a gate.

Some residents blamed loyalists, although this has not been confirmed.

A number of people who had to leave their homes in both areas have been allowed to return.

Police Inspector Sean Taylor said: "This kind of senseless and indiscriminate attack on innocent members of the community is totally unacceptable.

"It is sheer good fortune that no-one was badly injured. Once again our community has been disrupted and the lives of our residents put at risk by a cowardly element intent on causing as much disruption as they can.

"We will not tolerate this threat to the lives of the local community. Local police will not be deterred from delivering a service to the community that they deserve."